a. Responsibility for Obtaining. When interpreters are required in criminal proceedings or in
civil proceedings initiated by the United States, the Clerk of Court will obtain the services of
certified or otherwise qualified interpreters, except the United States Attorney must obtain the
services of such interpreters for government witnesses. In all other cases, a party requiring the
services of an interpreter must obtain interpreting services.
b. List of Interpreters. The Clerks of Court have a list of SDIA and NDIA interpreters who have
been certified by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts and will
make the list available to interested persons upon request.
c. Grand Jury. The government must make and preserve an electronic sound recording of any
part of any grand jury proceedings in which an interpreter is used. The government may destroy
any such sound recording after a period of 5 years from the making of the recording.
d. Confidentiality. Court interpreters must comply with all statutory requirements of
confidentiality and secrecy and must protect all privileged and confidential information. Court
interpreters must not disclose to anyone information of a confidential nature obtained while
performing interpreting duties during or relating to proceedings in the court unless ordered to
do so by the court.
e. Conflicts. Court interpreters must disclose promptly to the court and to the parties any apparent
or actual conflict of interest, including any prior involvement with the case or with persons
significantly involved in the case.
f. Advice. A court interpreter must refrain from giving advice of any kind to any party or
individual involved in court proceedings for which the interpreter has been engaged to perform
interpreting services.
g. Opinions. A court interpreter must not publicly express an opinion concerning court
proceedings for which the interpreter has been engaged to perform interpreting services.
h. Notification by Clerk of Court. The Clerk of Court will notify interpreters of the requirements
of this rule by providing a copy of the rule to each interpreter upon his or her first appearance in
court proceedings in this district. This requirement does not apply to telephone interpreters
supplied to the court by the Telephone Interpreting Program. (See LCrR 28(i)).
i. Certified Telephone Interpreters. In criminal cases, the court may use certified interpreters
supplied by the Telephone Interpreting Program sponsored by the Administrative Office of the
United States Courts. Any objection to the use of such an interpreter must be made before the
commencement of the proceeding being interpreted.
